State of Water Pollution from 

Industrial Effluents in Bangladesh

Syed Nazmul Ahsan

Director (Environmental Clearance)
Department of Environment

05 May 2019, Dhaka

 Introduction
• Bangladesh has achieved rapid economic growth in recent times
and aims to become a middle‐income country by 2021. The
textile sector has contributed 82% of the country’s total export
revenue.
• Water quality is crucial for a healthy ecosystem and livelihood.
Bangladesh, as a downstream part of three major rivers is
dominated by floodplain and deltaic ecosystem that are
increasingly being threatened by surface water pollution and
excessive ground water abstraction.
• Population increase, release of untreated industrial effluents
and sewage, unplanned solid waste dumping along the river
banks, encroachment and non‐point source pollution from
agricultural activities are major reasons for poor water quality
and deterioration of river ecosystem.
 Introduction (Contd.)
• Department of Environment (DoE) has been monitoring
surface water quality since its establishment in 1973. DoE’s
surface water quality monitoring network includes major
rivers and lakes. Monitoring information provide water
quality of major rivers of Bangladesh.
• The water quality of rivers surrounding Dhaka, Chattagram,
Khulna city and near other major urban areas were below
the Environmental Quality Standard (EQS) set in the
Environment Conservation rules 1997 in dry season.
 Major Sources of Pollution

Industrial Waste Water

Solid Waste Dumping

Sewage Water

River Encroachment
Oil Spillage & Bilge Water
Sedimentation & Siltation
 Extent of Pollutant Flow to River System
• The water quality of rivers has been 
seriously affected by the dumping 
of municipal solid waste, direct 
connection of sewerage lines and 
toxic industrial discharge.
• Buriganga has become extremely 
polluted and is close to biological 
death. 
• The tremendous increase in 
pollution has created enormous 
environmental problems. 
 Industrial Clusters – Contribution to Pollution
• The Buriganga and adjacent rivers 
around Dhaka City are being polluted 
by effluent flowing in from two 
directions: 
– the outflow of sewage from the Dhaka  Tongi
City & 
– from the clusters of industry. 
• Nine hotspots of industrial pollution 
have been identified by IWM as major 
source of industrial pollution. These 
are: 
(1) Tongi, (2) Hazaribag, (3) Tejgaon,
(4) Tarabo, (5) Narayanganj, 
(6) Savar, (7) DEPZ, (8) Gazipur and
(9) Ghorashal.
 Present Pollution Status ‐ Buriganga
• The tremendous increase in 
pollution has created 
enormous environmental 
problems, including others 
disposal of solid waste, 
sewerage, industrial wastes. 
• DOE has been collecting 
water quality data from 
Buriganga and monitors 
about 18 water quality 
parameters.
• Analysis of available data 
from DOE shows that the 
water quality in the river is 
deteriorating continuously. 
 Pollution Status of Buriganga
(Rainy Season)

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
10
DHAKA LABORATORY
RIVER WATER QUALITY
Concentration of DO (mg/L)

8 DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) LEVEL OF BURIGANGA RIVER

RAINY SEASONS ( MAY-OCTOBER)
YEAR: 2010-2017
6

Conc.of DO…
2

0
2010 2011 2012 2013 Year 2014 2015 2016 2017
 Pollution Status of Buriganga
(Dry Season)

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT
DHAKA LABORATORY
10 RIVER WATER QUALITY
Concentration of DO (mg/L)

DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) LEVEL OF BURIGANGA RIVER

DRY SEASONS (NOVEMBER-APRIL)
YEAR:2010-2017
5

Conc.of DO (Dissolved…
0
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year 2015 2016 2017
Present Pollution Status ‐ Buriganga
RIVER WATER QUALITY
DISSOLVED OXYGEN (DO) LEVEL OF BURIGANGA RIVER
2017

Mirpur bridge
Hazaribagh
Kamrangir Char
Chandni Ghat
Sadar Ghat
Dholaikhal
Pagla
Buriganga Bridge
 Present Pollution Status – Turag
• The river Turag receives 
wastewater from Dhaka 
City through some khals 
via sluice gates. 
• Pollution from non‐
point sources such as 
domestic sewage 
nearby habitats and 
industrial effluent is 
also considerable. 
 Present Pollution Status – Balu
• The river Balu is heavily polluted 
with organic and human wastes.
• During the dry season, as indicated 
by the low values of DO and high 
values of Coliform.
• The DO concentration in the Balu 
have been much below the critical 
level of 4 mg/l. 
• Heavy metal concentrations in the 
river water during the dry season 
shows ‐ Aluminum (Al), Cadmium 
(Cd), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg) is 
higher. 
 Present Pollution Status – Tongi Khal

• Several industrial and 
commercial zones of Dhaka 
and Tongi area are situated 
near Tongi khal.
• It receives high volume of 
municipal and industrial waste 
water discharge throughout 
the year.
• Water quality parameters in 
Tongi Khal indicated very low 
concentration of DO (less than 
1 mg/l) in dry season. 
 Present Pollution Status – Sitalakhya

• Industries like textile and dyeing, 
etc. have been developed along 
Sitalakhya bank (from Kanchan to 
Narayangonj) discharge untreated 
waste into the river. 
• Municipal wastes, domestic sewage 
from Narayangonj area and 
industrial wastes from the DND 
area also accelerate the pollution. 
• The Sitalakhya receives waste load 
mainly through six khals or drains :
– Majhipara khal, Killarpool khal 
– Kalibazar khal, Tanbazar khal 
– BK road khal and DND khal. 
 Source & Causes of Pollution – Industry

• In absence of Zoning of the 
industries, indiscriminate 
industrial growth has been 
found.
• Almost complete lack of 
treatment from about 7,000 
industries.
• More than 60,000 cubic 
meter/day of toxic waste 
enters the Dhaka canal and 
river system (textiles, dyeing, 
printing,   washing and 
pharmaceuticals are main 
polluters).
 Source & Causes of Pollution – Sewage

• DWASA present sewerage 
coverage in Dhaka City is only 
about 30%.
• Existing sewerage system is 
old and inadequate to cope up 
with the present demand.
• There is a tendency specially 
in non‐sewered areas to give 
connection of domestic sewer 
into the surface drains/storm 
sewer causing a source of 
pollution.
 Source & Causes of Pollution – Solid Waste
• DCC is mandated with the task of 
solid waste disposal in DCC area.
• About 3200 metric tons of solid 
waste are generated each day in 
Dhaka City 
• Only about 44% of generated 
waste is collected and dumped at 
land fill sites. 
• The rest of generated wastes are 
required to dump by the people at 
unauthorized places and water 
bodies. 
• The wholesale markets around the 
Buriganga river bank also a major 
source of solid waste generation. 
 Source & Causes of Pollution – Marine Waste

• Discharge of Bilge Water, 
Fuel, and Oil from Boat and 
Ships.
• No effective regulation of 
discharges from boats and 
ships.
• Fuel and oil enters the river 
system.
• Runoff from ship dockyards 
contaminates waterways.
• Oil and fuel reduce the 
habitat for fish and cause 
tainting (kerosene‐like smell 
and taste in fish).
 Source & Causes of Pollution – Encroachment

• River encroachment  narrowing the river width 
and reduces the water flow.
• Water abstraction reduces discharge rates in 
rivers in the winter; extremely poor water 
quality with no flows.
Source & Causes of Pollution – Encroachment
 Impacts of Water Pollution
• Health Impact
– People are suffering from different health problem.
– A qualitative assessment found three major types of 
diseases appeared to be highly correlated with industrial 
water pollution. These are skin diseases, diarrhea and 
dysentery. 
– 20 types of illness were identified due to industrial 
pollution. It affirmed that these types of illness have been 
increasing in the last 10 years. 
– Nearly 80% of people reported to have suffered jaundice, 
skin diseases or diarrhea in the watershed area, compared 
to about a third or less in the control population. 
 Impacts of Water Pollution
• Social Impact
– People are migrated from river side to other places.
– They are socially isolated from their relatives.
– Sometimes it affects their conjugal life.
– Less interested to build up relationship (marriage).
• Impact on Agriculture
– Agricultural land losing their fertility.
– Highly polluted river water could not be used for irrigation.
• Impact on Economy
– River based tourism industry not developed.
– Fishermen become unemployed.
 Impacts of Water Pollution

• Impact on Ecology & Biodiversity
– Many flora and Fauna are almost lost.
– Food chains are disturbed and ecological balance 
are under threatening due to poisonous 
chemicals. 
• Impact on Aesthetic Value
– Poor water quality discourages recreation.
– Buriganga lost her attraction & beauty.
• Regular monitoring and enforcement activities are being
done.
• Installation of ETP is mandatory for all effluent discharging
industries. Upto March, 2019 1765 ETP Installed
• Common ETP, Common STP, Water body, Green Plantation,
Open Space, etc. are mandatory for all EPZ and EZ
• Introduce Online Monitoring System
• Introduce submission of three year based Zero Discharge
Plan for all effluent discharging industries. The principle of
“zero discharge” is recycling of all industrial wastes
(including waste water). Upto March, 2019 450 ZDP
approved
 Conclusions

The Surface water system is under heavy contamination

due to indiscriminate discharge of mainly industrial
effluent (60%) and domestic waste water (40%)
Groundwater aquifers are also vulnerable in some
places
Immediate actions are required to arrest further
contamination
The only way to solve the environmental pollution due
to industrial effluents is to restrict the polluted
discharge at the source.
Comprehensive monitoring and enforcement activities
should immediately be in place.
For More Information Please Visit the Website of DOE
www.doe.gov.bd